Wiggins and Froome clash over Tour de France leadership

Le sigh

Dare I say, although he hasnt 'got on game shows and all this stuff - like most of them have done' the "SIR" bit has gone to ones head a touch.

Brailsford's played a blinder here. I've no doubt he's told Froome he's the GC contender but he wants Wiggins to provide the threat - whether he knows he's being played like that or not. Hopefully, both will be approaching peak form in July.

My own view is that Froome will prove himself over the course of the last week or the Tour as he won't have a GT in his legs. It's a far stiffer parcours in the Tour this year. However, with no sprinter to babysit, they effectively have 7 domestiques so can afford to look after both GC contenders.

Brailsford will have to earn his money when the race is on though. This will be harder without Sean Yates there as a DS. I just hope it doesn't turn into Astana of 2009. At least Sky don't have to pacify an egocentric, doped old giffer.

A bit disrespectful for the reigning champion to enter the ring and say I'm not trying to win.

Just all feels a bit Hinault/Lemond to me. Sure, Brad is the defending champion etc, but the season goals were decided a long time ago, and Froome was put on a path to build up for the TdF.

Ultimately, I think what might happen is that DB keeps quietish, the whole team ride near the front to keep out of danger for the first 10 days, they hit the mountains, TTT up the first few cols, then with just Wiggo, Froome, Nibali, Contador etc left, Froome launches the attack and Wiggo loses a little time, but not much. Rinse and repeat to increase margin. Wiggo then pulls back a little time in the ITTs but it isn't enough because there is less TT kms in this year's edition. Wiggo is also then too knackered to attempt the Vuelta as well.

Surely he would be better trying for both the Giro and the Vuelta in one year? I would much prefer to see a settled team where everyone knows (and is happy with) their role.

It's all mind games so the opposition are clueless as to who they have to watch.

If it all goesa to plan a Sky 1 - 2 will do me fine, not saying which way though

farrell. Thanks for enlightening me. And for the graphic metaphorical prose. You're probably right but I think you might need to see a professional mind doctor.

I hope that Wiggo and Froome do not go off all diva-ish and Sky's tour does not implode because they cannot function as a team because they are having hissy fit's about who is the leader.

I think they will have a much tougher time in the Tour (never mind the Giro) as some of the other teams look like they are starting to get their head around the idea of marginal gains and Sky's race strategies.

This feel like deja vu to anyone else? Chris' mrs getting the hump again, although I can't say I blame her.

I look forward to @teamsky clearing up this mess (ASAP) #fedup

— Michelle Cound (@michellecound) April 30, 2013

'It's all mind games so the opposition are clueless as to who they have to watch. '

this. And Ms Cound can stfu. What a whinger.

'This is a team having its bowels pumped to bursting by Sky's cash cock'

Farrell...genius. Love it.

This reminds me of the Blair / Brown fiasco. If you help someone become master of the universe don't be surprised if they get to like it and delay / renege on their promise to let you have a go.

Have to agree with Farrell. Wiggins has to be seen to defend his title. It's a PR's dream. Win or lose the Giro it's going to be a cracking TDF either way.

Can't see Mrs Froome getting a snapping job with Sky until Wiggins retires and that must piss her off. Maybe cranking up the fight will actually help her cause.

Meanwhile over on Twitter Kimmage is still hurt that he wasn't invited on the TDF by Sky last year. '...And I'd bought a camper van.' was my favourite quote from 2012.

Looking at the photo I'd have to add that Sir Brad needs to observe Rule #5. He lives just up the road from me where Balaclavas are for sissys.

As much as i like Bradley i really would like to see Froome destroy him in the TdF.

(in the nicest possible way you understand?)

Wouldn't expect the reigning champ to say anything other than he wants to win, and I'm certainly not about to slag him off for it.

Ditto the mighty Froomedog stating his GC case. Nothing wrong with a bit of intra-team rivalry either - stokes up the contest and makes things more interesting for us spectators as well.

Quite en vogue to hate on the Wigs at the mo, as if his cycling prowess had nothing to do with winning the TdF, it was all number-crunching and sacrificing (not literally) of team-mates. Fact is, he's a superb grand tourist and even though he's on the 'knock him down' phase of the celebrity arc, still deserves respect as one of the finest road cyclists the country has produced (yes, born in Belgium to Aussie dad, but whatever).

I like it. As notfastenough puts it, it is 1986 all over again and that was an epic Tour De France.

There maybe a bit of added spice to juice up the event. The promoters will not mind it one bit. I think also that Brad and Chris have a score to settle: Did Froome gift the TdF to Brad, or did Brad always have it in the bag? Tough to catagorically say while Froome sat up on a number of stages.

As reigning TdF winner Brad should defend his title. He did also say Froomy will have his day too.

I do think that Sky have this sorted. It certainly makes the game plan harder for other teams if they are unsure who to attack. But equally, if they don't have their team together then they may lose it before the race has even begun.

If this is not PR spin Brailesford has his work cut out. First though, Brad has to come good on the Giro. Anyway, things are looking tasty for July!

You wait a hundred years for a potential British TDF winner and then two come along at once... it's fucking great!

Lots of medals,tour de France winner,he look good in a suit, now sir Wiggo , but from Italy,,,,,nothing,,,,,,yet.

'As much as i like Bradley i really would like to see Froome destroy him in the TdF.
'

the same, but the other way round. Just to prove that Froome had no chance last year, orders or no.

Er which channel is showing the Giro this year in the UK? The rot starts here.

I just hope it is mind games. My only concern is that there is internal conflict during TdF which leads to neither winning. I feel the opposition is much closer in ability than at 85/86 and the Hinault/leMond circus.

As for WAGS - I can understand them getting riled up by the hype but I really don't want cycling to become anymore like football where hangers on get as much or more attention than the athletes. I'd rather go back to cycling being anonymous than becoming a media hype fest.

I'm certain this is no Sky PR stunt, but just Brad changing his mind, maybe unsure about his Giro prospects? Maybe unlikely as he's looking incredibly stong and to me the outright favourite to win the Giro.
Now that Sky have brought us the first british TdF winner, they do not have to stick to a single plan A. Froome will need to just prove it on the road, and I hope he does so. Sky will need to be careful that other contenders do not exploit this while Froome and Wiggo are watching each other rather than the race.
I also think that Wiggo wants to show this year that he does not have to rely on absolute and total dominance in TTs to win a stage race.

Would you expect anything less from Wiggins?
He's made a career of winding people up and watching them spin to destruction and Michelle Cound is the latest one to fall for it.
I reckon Sir Wiggo sees this year as the last chance he'll have to win the tour a second time and so will probably be looking to go out in a blaze of glory.
What can they do? Sack him? Having spent so much time and effort to get him onto the Sky team they couldn't afford to piss off the UK supporter base.
Wiggins is British, he may be Belgium born and have an Aussie Dad but he thinks and talks like the people who support him and he has real character, like it or not. He has been around for years and we've watched in wonder as he transformed from a track racer to a GT competitor.
Froome is also British, but born in Kenya and he is boring. He has no individual character and to the general British public he appeared from nowhere last summer and they're probably not bothered if he disappears back there again.
Allez Wiggo!

let me assure you that to the general British public Wiggo last year was a wonderful, but unexpected revelation

I'm mostly interested what happens on the bike during bike races, and from what I've seen so far this season, Froome is the more exciting and complete rider.

Please please please don't let Sky win it.

Wiggins, Froome - in another team ok. But not in Sky. No. Cav for the green, and Bertie for the yellow. Please.